Motion-picture apparatus



Feb. 5, 1924; 1,482,844 I R. M. FORSYTH MOTION PICTURE- APPARATUS Filed March 51, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. M. FORSYTH MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Feb. 5 1924.

Filed March 31, 1923 SSheets-Sheet 2 gwvzntoz v RMI bnsyf/z atbozwug R. FORSYTH MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Feb. 5, 1924.

Filed March 31, 1923' 3 SheetsSheet Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOY M. FORS YTH, OF GOUVERNEUR, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OTTO E,

PATTBERG,. OF GOUVERNEUR, NEW YORK.

MOTION-PICTURE APPARATUS.

Application filed March 31, 1923. Serial No. 629,087.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ROY M. FoRsY'rH. a citizen of the United States, residing at Gouver- I neur, in the county of Saint Lawrence and estate" of New York, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motion- Pict ure- Apparatus, of which the-following is specification.

This invention relates-to motion picture.

apparatus and particularly to an automatically controlled and operated fire gate whleh is adapted to be automatically interposed in the path of the rays from the projection lamp, if for any reason the movement of the film across the film opening i stopped In carrying out my invention, I utilize the principle involved in a driving mechanism which has been termed a non-positive magnetic-clutch drive, one of the elements of- 9 which in the present instance is employed to control an electricalvcircuit in which is included the fire control gate.

1 further employ in-my construction, a peculiar form of yielding connection between a film driven friction element which will permit of a substantial constant and interrupted motion in one direction of the permanent magnet of the magnetic-clutch device, although its initial drive is responsive to the intermittent movement of the film.

ihirious other features, through which I accomplish the results as hereinafter explained, will be self evident to those skilled in the I1 the accompanying dra-Wings,-

figure 1 is an elevation of a movingpicture machine showing my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan, view thereof. e 3 is a. detail vertical longitudinal sectional view of the various shafts and the wiring. 1

8 is a detaii transverse sectional showing the electrical contacts.

pure 9 is a detail sectionai View on the i igure v e ferring now to the drawings by nu morals of reference, 2 designates the frame shaft 12 to which are rigidly fastened by keys or other suit-able means, a pair of disks ll, preferably'of aluminum, the periphery of each of which is faced with rubber 15 or other friction material, said disks being arranged upon the outside of the bearing sleeves and projecting through the film gate and in operation, in frictional engagement with the film shown at 16 in dotted lines.

Supported upon the front of the machine frame by a pair of bearing sleeves 18, carried by metal plates 19 attached as by screw 20,

and n axial alinement with the shaft 12, is a second rotary shaft 22, said shafts 12 and 22 being connected by a coil torsion spring 24, in such manner that rotation of the former imparts a similar movement to the latter. This yielding connection performs a useful function as will be presently described.

'"The outer end of the second shaft'22 has fixed thereto for rotation there-with a multipolar permanent magnet 26. the hub 28 of which is preferably of aluminum. The

outer end of the shaft 22 is further formed" into a spindle bearing 30.

Arranged over and concentric with the 'rotary permanent magnet- 26, but in spaced relation thereto, andupon a shaft 32 t0- vwhich it is fixed, is a drum armature 33,

which specifically comprises an outside shell 3% of laminated steel or soft steel having an inner ClFQlllllfGlGl'lblli series or transversely arranged, spaced copper bars36, the drum being faced upon one side with a copper ring 38, and upon the opposite face with a copper disk 26, and with which latter the shaft 32 is connected.

The shafts 32 and 22 are also in axial alinement, the inner end of the former being provided with a bearing cup ll into which is received-the spindle bearing of the latter. At its outer end, the shaft 32 has its bearing within the cup 4:2 of an adjustable bearing screw 44 threaded within a bracket .46 secured as by screws to the front of the Permanently secured at its inner end to:

the drum shaft 32, is a coiled helical spring l8 carrying at its free end which is arranged on a tangent, an electrical contact 50 which cooperates with, a. fixed contact- 52 carried b but insulated electrically from the mac ine frame. v

When the contacts 50, and 52 are brought into engagement in the manner to be subsequenty set forth, an electrical circuit in which the machine frame and a double pole solenoid magnet 54 are included, is' completed, thus energizing the spools 56 and drawing within them the cores 60, the latter being bridged by a bar 62.

The bar 62 is connected through a link x 64 with one end of a rockarm 66 pivoted at into engagement with the fixed contact 52 on 68 on the machine frame, the opposite end of said arm, through a' link 70, supporting the fire-gate 6 which slides within the guide frame 8. A coil tension spring 74;- attached at one'end to the gate carrying end of the rock arm 66 and at the other end to a fixed part of the machine frame tends to maintain the gate closed in safety position except when the machine is in operation.

While my invention should be readily understood from the foregoing description, especially to those familar with the art to waich this apparatus relates, li will give a brief outline of the manner of operation:

The motion picture machine being in operatiomandthe film 16 moving downvwardly past the projection opening, frictionally contacts at its margins with the friction disks 14: and through the flexible "shafting l2 and 22, rotates the permanent magnet 26 dragging the drum armature 33 in a counter-clockwise direction, and bringing the contact carried by the spring 4.8

the machine frame. The closing of these contacts results in the energizing of the solenoid coils 56, attracting the cores and through the link and rocking arm con nections 64., 66 and Z6 lifting the film gate.

If for any reason, the movement of the film should he interrupted, the contacts 50 and 52 will be separatedthus breaking the adapted to perform the functions set forth,.

it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion, and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the principles of the invention.

1 claim:

1. In a lire trap operating mechanism for moving picture machines, in combination with the frame thereof, having a film open ing and a gate there-for, a friction roller mounted in bearings on said machine frame adjacent the lilm opening, a,rotary permanent magnet journalled on said machine frame and having a driving connection with said frictionroller, an armature drum concentric with but in spaced relation over said magnet, an electric circuit including an electromagnet, means operated by said armature for opening and closing said circuit, and means operated by said electromagnet for raising and lowering said gate.

2. In a fire trap operating means for moving picture machines, in combination with the frame thereof having film opening and a gate therefor, friction roller means on said machine frame in proximity to said film gate, a shaft carrying said roller means,

bearings for said shaft,'a second shaft in axial alinement' with said first shaft, a rotary permanent magnet fired on said second shaft, a yielding torsion connection between said shafts, a drum armature concentric but in spaced relation to said perma-.

nent magnet, means for supporting said armature on said machine frame with the axis thereof in alinement \with the said' second shaft, an electrical circuit including an electromagnet, means for connecting the film gate and the armature of said electroma -net, and 'a yielding means carried by said drum armaturefor opening and closingsaid electrical circuit.

3. ln :1. fire trap operating mechanism for moving picture machines, in combination with the frame thereof having a projection opening and a fire gate therefor, a shaft journaled on said machine frame, a pair of friction rollers fired on said, shaft and adapted to frictionally engage the opposite margin of the film, a second shaft journaled on said frame, a coil torsion spring connecting saidfirs't and second shafts, a permanent multi-polar ma net fixed on one end of said shaftfa third s aft journaled on said frame, an armature drum concentric with,

1,4a2,s44 I but in spaced relation to said permanent magnet, a spiral spring surrounding said third shaft and having its inner end fixed thereto, an electrical contact member atthe outer free end of said spring, a contact on said machine frame but insulated therefrom and arranged in the path of movement of said spring carried contact, an electrical circuit adapted to be closed by said contact and including an electromagnet, and means 10 for connecting the armature thereof with said film gate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROY M. FORSYTH. 

